My 8 year old is struggling with school and I feel like I've failed him.
He tries so hard and is generally well behaved but it does not click for him.
I help out at his school every now and then, so I see how his peers are excelling whilst he just struggles. I always leave feeling deflated and anxious.
He is receiving support from school as well as private tutoring.
We read most mornings and every night.
I don't know what else to do. My other child was falling behind slightly because I have been putting so much time into my 8 year old to try and catch him up.
My gut feeling is something is not quiet right, I just can't put my finger on it. He has a quirky personality, is sweet natured and well liked by his peers. He is athletic and excels in most sports.
I just can't get past this guilt I am not doing enough.
I spent a lot of last year vocalising my concerns with the school, with little to no concern on there behalf. New year, new teacher, they are now understanding and seeing something else may be going on.
What else should I do? Is this worthy of a pead referral /visit?
Feeling like a failure of a mum.
Feeling like a failure of a mum.
Posted in:
Parenthood Guilt, Education
2 Replies
Absolutely, never wait for the school to do something. Your boy will just get put on a wait list.
Go to your GP and line up a bunch of referrals. If it's literacy he is struggling with research how to get a dyslexia assessment in your area. If it is dyslexia get your other kids assessed to as it can run in families.
Yes! Go see a paed. Might be aspergers, might be dyslexia, or any number of learning/developmental delays that once identified, can be 'treated' and supported. Have you had his eyes and ears checked?
Omg I hear you re the mum guilt!! My kids all have dyslexia, autism, etc and I have carried the weight and responsibility on my shoulders for ever! Now my mindset has changed. The school system fails our kids, not us mums.
Good on you for not listening to them, and listening to your own inner voice. When we know better, we do better. You will learn lots of things about how kids learn, in particular, how your son learns, how he thinks, how he processes information, and you will support him to be a happy confident lovely kid xx